My name is Tom de Rooij and your new treasurer. Born in Rotterdam in 1958 , in the Netherlands, married and a proud father of two adult daughters, living in Almere and working in Utrecht,  I have been involved in the amateur arts since 1976 when my education started at the Conservatory of Rotterdam.
Since 1991 I am involved in management in the amateur arts an did my mangementtraining at the Higher School for the Arts en Economies in Utrecht. In 1993 I became the managing director of the Art Education Centre ‘de Kunstlinie’ situated in Almere, the new town in the Netherlands, founded in 1976 where now in 2009 193.000 persons are living. The centre gives courses in all the disciplines in the art  for 3.200 persons every week, is involved in amateur art groups en cultural education in all the schools.

In March 2007 I became the CEO of the National Institute for amateur art in the Netherlands, named Kunstfactor.  The institute is also the National centre for AITA/IATA. We work with 85 staff members, divided in departments. One of the departments is Theatre.  tThis department has 7 advisors in Theatre. We are involved in the artistic development of the amateur theatre; we try to influence the education of the professionals; organize activities in the corporation between amateur artist and professionals, do research and so on.

I am also a board member of Amateo (www.amateo.info) , the European Network for active participation in cultural activites. In the Netherlands I am the secretary of the Youth Culture Fund (www.jeugdcultuurfonds.nl) ; the fund gives children and youngsters financial support in active participation in culture and art.
Finally I am the Chairman of the Artistic Committee of the Almere Chamber Music Festival ((www.kamermuziek-almere.nl).